the prisoner, turning toward his judge on his knees," you know nothing either of preaching or praying9, if you call what I now say, preaching; "then continued without confusion. When his devotions were ended, Claverhouse commanded him to bid good night to his wife and children. Brown turned towards them, and, taking his wife by the hand, told her that the hour was come which he had spoken of, when he first asked her consent to marry him. The poor woman answered firmly," In this cause I am willing to resign 1 you."" Then have I nothing to do save to die," he replied; " and I thank God I have been in a frame to meet death for many years." He was shot dead 12 by a party of soldiers at the end of his own house; and although his wife was of a nervous habit, and used to become sick 13 at the sight of blood, she had on this occasion strength enough to support the dreadful scene without fainting or confusion; only her eyes dazzled when the carabines were fired. While her husband's dead body lay stretched before him, Claverhouse asked her what she thought of her husband now. "I ever thought much of him," she replied,

"and now

You.., vous ne savez pas ce que c'est que prêcher ou prier.—10 I am willing to resign, je consens à me siparer de.. -11 I have been in a frame, de ce que j'ai été prêt.-12 Shot dead, fusille. — 13 To become sick,

more than ever. "It were but justice 14," said Claverhouse," to lay 15 thee beside him."—"I doubt not," she replied, "that if you were permitted 16, your cruelty would carry you that length 7. But how will you answer for this morning's work 18 ? "—"To man I can be answerable," said Claverhouse, and heaven I will take in my own hand." He then mounted his horse and marched, and left her with the corpse of her husband lying beside her, and her fa therless infant in her arms. She placed the child on the ground, tied up the corpse's head, and straighted the limbs, and covered him with her plaid, and sat down and wept over him.

W. SCOTT.

de s'évanouir.-4It were..., ce ne serait que justice. -15 To lay, d'étendre.-16 That if you were permitted, si vous en aviez le pouvoir.-17 Would carry you that length, s'étendrait jusqué-là.—18 For this morning's work, de l'emploi de voire matinée.

DESCRIPTIVE PIECES.

THE AGE OF CHIVALRY.

Between the age of Charlemagne and that of the Crusades, a revolution took place among the Spaniards, Normans, and French, which gradually extended itself to the rest of Europe. The service of the infantry was degraded to the plebeians; the cavalry formed the strength of the armies; and the honorable name of miles, or soldier, was confined solely to the gentlemen, who served on horseback,and who were invested with 2 the character of knighthood.

The dukes and counts, who had usurped the rights of sovereignty, divided the provinces among their faithful barons; the barons distributed among their vassals the fiefs, or benefices, of their jurisdiction; and these military tenants (the peers of each other, and of their lord) composed the noble or equestrian order, which disdained to conceive the peasants, or burghers, as of the same species as themselves. The dignity of their birth

1 Was degraded to, fut abandonné à. -- 2 Invested

was preserved by pure and equal alliances; their sons, alone, who could produce four quarters, or lines of ancestry, without spot or reproach, might legally pretend to the honour of knighthood; but a valiant plebeian was sometimes enriched and ennobled by the sword, and became the father of a new race. A single knight could impart, according to his judgment, the character which he received, and the warlike sovereigns of Europe derived more glory from this personal distinction, than from the lustre of their diadem.

4

This ceremony was, in its origin, simple and profane; the candidate, after some previous trial, was invested with his sword 3, and spears; and his cheek or shoulder was touched with a slight blow, as an emblem of the last affront which it was lawful for him to endure 5. But superstition mingled in every public and private action of life; in the holy wars it sanctified the profession of arms; and the order of chivalry was assimilated, in its rights and privileges, to the sacred order of priesthood. As the champion of God and the ladies, the knight devoted himself to truth; to maintain right; to protect distress; to practise

6

with, revêtus de...-.3 Invested with his sword, recevait l'épée. His cheek..., on lui appliquait sur la joue ou sur l'épaule. - 5 Which it was..., qu'il lui était permis de souffrir.- Ce verbe ainsi que les suivants se

6

courtesy; to despise the allurements of ease and safety; and to vindicate in every perilous adventure, the honour of knighthood.

7

The benefits of this institution, to refine the temper of barbarians, and to infuse some principles of faith, justice and humanity, were strongly felt, and have been often observed. The asperity of national prejudice was softened, and the community of religion and arms spread a similar colour and generous emulation over the face of Christendom. Abroad, in enterprise and pilgrimage at home, in martial exercise-the warriors of every country were perpetually associated; and impartial taste must prefer a gothic tournament, to the Olympic games of classic antiquity.

GIBBON.

traduiront par les substantifs correspondants; ainsi, to maintain right, au maintien de la justice, etc. —7 To infuse, verser dans leur cœur.